14 August 1893: World's first driving licences introduced - MoneyWeek By: Chris Carter 14/08/2014 When Jules-Albert de Dion crossed the finish line five minutes ahead of everyone else in the world’s first motor car competition in 1894, he wasn’t very happy. And it wasn’t just because the first prize went to the guy behind him. The previous year, Louis Lépine became the top civil servant at the Seine police department, covering Paris and the surrounding countryside. He wasn’t long in the job when he decided the new-fangled machines gracing the streets of the capital needed regulating. And so, on 14 August 1893, the Paris Police Ordinance took effect. The new regulations required drivers to have number plates on their cars and adhere to a speed limit of 20km/h on country roads and 12km/h in built-up areas. It also created two other world firsts: driving tests and driving licences – the certficat de capacité de conduit d’un véhicule à moteur. The new speed limit wouldn’t have worried you much – at least not at first.

Jules-Albert de Dion averaged 20km/h over the 79 miles from Paris to Rouen – and he was in a hurry. That said, the first woman to gain a driving licence, the duchess of Uzès, was also the first person to get a speeding ticket in 1898. The early driving tests wouldn’t have cost you much sleep either. You just had to prove you could pull away, steer, stop and have a vague idea of why you broke down. Of course, you wouldn’t have had any formal lessons – those appeared in 1917. But it wasn’t until 1935 that driving tests arrived in Britain. Driving licences didn’t go down well with these early motoring enthusiasts. Perhaps fearing government meddling in their hobby, they formed themselves into groups. One such group was led by the aggrieved Jules-Albert de Dion, who in 1895 founded the Automobile Club de France – a Paris gentleman’s club still in existence today. Also on this day On this day in 1980, dockworkers at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk downed tools, leading to the formation of the Solidarity trade union. Read more here .

THE END OF OIL Understanding how the end of oil will affect your life and money is the single most important thing you’ll do in the next decade. And it will affect you, because it’ll affect everyone. But only a handful of people will be bold enough to see what’s happening and move early to take advantage. That’s exactly what our research report “The End of Oil” is designed to help you do. Which way now for Britain? The best choice for our relationship with the EU Why Punch's investors will toast Heineken Santa's bad example Motoring Firsts - The National Motor Museum Trust The National Motor Museum Trust Home > Story of Motoring > Motoring Firsts Motoring Firsts Among the questions we are most frequently asked are the various motoring firsts. Listed below are some of the most common questions that have been answered by our Motoring Research Service. Questions What were the first motor cars? The motor car was developed over many years by a number of talented individuals but Karl Benz of Mannheim in Germany is normally credited as the Inventor of the Motor Car. In the autumn of 1885, his three-wheeled vehicle became the first successful petrol-engined car.

He was awarded a patent for it on 29 January 1886, and became the first motor manufacturer in 1888 with his Modell 3 Benz. In 1886, Gottlieb Daimler and his protégé Wilhelm Maybach built the first successful four-wheeled petrol-driven car at Bad Cannstatt. The Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft was established four years later in 1890. On 1 July 1926 Benz and Daimler merged to become Daimler-Benz AG and its products Mercedes-Benz. Fredrick William Bremer, a plumber and gas fitter, built the first British four-wheeled petrol-engined motor car. Starting work in 1892, when he was 20, the still incomplete car made its first run on a public highway in December 1894. What was the first motor car to run on the British Highway? There are a number of claims and counter claims for the first motor car to appear on the road in Britain. Frederick William Bremer of Walthamstow is believed to have had a four-wheeled car running in late 1894.

Both he and James D. Roots may have independently built motorised tricycles as early as 1892. Roots certainly had one powered by an oil engine running on the road in early 1896. Another theory is that the first motor car to run on the British highway was a 2hp Benz Velo imported by Henry Hewetson in November 1894, although some believe this may have actually been in 1895. The Hon. Evelyn Ellis certainly imported a Panhard et Levassor into Britain in June 1895. By the end of 1895, following further importations, it was estimated that there were 14 or 15 cars on Britain’s roads, a figure which had increased dramatically by 1900 to approximately seven or eight hundred! The million mark for private cars was reached in Britain in 1930, with 10 million in 1967. John Henry Knight of Farnham, Surrey was an engineer and enthusiastic inventor with a keen interest in photography and locomotion.

With the help of engineer George Parfitt, in 1895 he created the first purpose-built, petrol-driven, three-wheeled car to be run on the roads of Britain. In order to improve stability a fourth wheel was added the following year. This pioneering British car is on display at the National Motor Museum. Cycle makers Charles and Walter Santler of Malvern Link, Worcestershire built a steam car in 1889 which was subsequently fitted with a single cylinder gas engine and then rebuilt again with a single cylinder ‘petrol’ engine in 1894. Santlers went on to build several other cars between 1897 and 1913 when they launched a range of light cars for general sale. Frederick Lanchester started work on a four-wheeled petrol car in 1895 which was successfully tested on the road in early 1896. The Lanchester Engine Co. commenced building production cars in 1899. When was the word petrol first used? The term petrol was not used until 1896, when it was patented by Messrs Carless, Capel & Leonard of Hackney Wick.

When were windscreen wipers first used? There are various claims for the first windscreen wipers. Some sources say that they were first used in France in 1907. British photographer Gladstone Adams is said to have had the idea for wipers whilst driving his Daracq home to Newcastle after watching the 1908 FA Cup Final at Crystal Palace (his team Newcastle United had lost 3 – 1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers). He patented his design in 1911. Various motoring magazine pictures show Prince Henry of Prussia in a car with simple up and down squeegee type wiper fitted to the windscreen in 1909. In 1919 (some sources say 1921) William Folberth of Cleveland, USA, marketed the first automatic windscreen wipers. They were operated by vacuum from the engine's inlet manifold. Where was the first motor museum? Britain’s first dedicated motor museum was set up by Edmund Dangerfield, Editor of The Motor magazine. Temporarily sited in Oxford Street, London, it opened on 31 May 1912 with over forty vehicles built before 1903 and a range of accessories.

The exhibition closed on 31 July 1912 and reopened on 12 March 1914 at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. The collection remained there until the British Government commandeered the building during World War I, when exhibits were returned to owners, taken in by Government Museums, or dumped on waste ground near Charing Cross Station. This has been described as 'one of the untold tragedies of the war'. In 1931 the remaining unplaced vehicles from the 1912 Motor Museum were destroyed. In 1972 five of the saved cars from the original 1912 Museum were displayed at the newly opened National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Who was the first person to be charged for a speeding offence? Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent had the dubious honour of being the first person in Great Britain to be successfully charged with speeding on 28 January 1896. Travelling at approximately 8mph/12.87kph, he had exceeded the 2mph/3.22kph speed limit for towns.

Fined one shilling and costs, Arnold had been caught by a policeman who had given chase on a bicycle. When was the first driving licence issued? France introduced the first driving licences under the Paris Police Ordinance of 14 August 1893. The Motor Car Act of 14 August 1903, which took effect on 1 January 1904, introduced the driving licence (along with registration numbers for vehicles and a new speed limit of 20mph/32.19kph) into Great Britain. When were the first driving lessons given? The Motor Carriage Supply Company of London, their instructor being one Mr Hankinson, offered the first driving lessons in Britain in June 1900. The first organisation to title itself a driving school in Britain was the Liver Motor Car Depot and School of Automobilism of Birkenhead. William Lee established the school in May 1901 and its Chief Instructor was Archibald Ford. When were the first driving tests introduced? France, under the Paris Police Ordinance of 14 August 1893, introduced the first driving test.

Introduced on a voluntary basis, on 13 March 1935, the driving test did not become official in Great Britain until 1 April 1935 and compulsory until 1 June 1935. The first driving test pass certificate in Great Britain was awarded on the 16 March 1935 to Mr R.E.L. Beere of Kensington. When was the first Highway Code published? First published in booklet form in Great Britain in April 1931, it cost one penny. When did the first motoring fatality occur? Mrs Bridget Driscoll of Old Town, Croydon became the first motoring fatality on 17 August 1896, when she was run over by a Roger-Benz car at Crystal Palace, London. Employed by the Anglo-French Motor Co, Arthur Edsell was driving at 4mph/6.44kph when he hit Mrs Driscoll, fracturing her skull in the process. The first driver to die from injuries sustained in a motoring accident was Mr Henry Lindfield of Brighton when his electrical carriage overturned on Saturday 12 February 1898.

He died of shock the following day, caused by the amputation of one of his legs. According to the 19 February 1898 copy of Autocar, he had only driven the car two or three times and the accident was probably ‘due to the fact of the speed being so high’ – 16 or 17mph (25–27kph) – ‘a pretty high speed for a novice to maintain.’ The first crash to cause the death of a car passenger occurred on 25 February 1899 at Grove Hill, Harrow. Major James Stanley Richer, 63, died four days after the accident without regaining consciousness. The driver, Mr E.R. Sewell had been demonstrating the vehicle, a Daimler Wagonette, to Major Richer, Department Head at the Army & Navy Stores, with the view to a possible purchase for the company. Mr Sewell was killed on the spot, becoming the first driver of a petrol-driven car to die in an accident. When were the first traffic lights installed? The first traffic signals in Britain (and indeed the world) were installed outside the Houses of Parliament on 10 December 1868.

They used contemporary railway signalling technology – semaphore arms for day-time use and green or red gas lamps at night. Unfortunately they exploded on the night of 2 January 1869 injuring the police constable operating them! The first electric stop-go traffic lights were installed in Cleveland, Ohio in August 1914, with the first three-colour traffic lights in Detroit in 1919. 1922 saw the first electrically synchronised traffic signals installed in Houston, Texas. In Great Britain, manually operated three-colour traffic lights were first used in Piccadilly, London in 1926, with automatic traffic lights making their first appearance on an experimental basis in Princes Square, Wolverhampton, during November 1927. The experiment was presumably a success and the lights became permanent in 1930. Pedestrian-operated street crossing lights were first erected on the Brighton Road, Croydon, Surrey in 1932. Where were the first parking meters installed? Oklahoma City, USA was the site for the world’s first parking meter, where it was installed in July 1935. An invention of Gerald A. Hale and Professor H.G.

Thuesen of Oklahoma State University, the first person to be arrested for a parking meter offence was the Reverend C.H. North of the Third Pentecostal Church of Oklahoma City in August 1935. Britain’s first parking meters made their appearance outside the American Embassy in London’s Grosvenor Square on 10 July 1958. When did the first roadside petrol pumps appear? The first roadside petrol pumps became operational in St Louis, USA in 1905. Roadside petrol pumps were first installed in Britain in 1913, though they did not enter into general use until 1921. In 1920 the Automobile Association opened the first roadside petrol station (solely for the purpose of supplying fuel as opposed to being a garage) at Aldermaston, Berkshire. A number of similar stations were established around the country. They were operated by AA Patrolmen and exclusively for the use of AA members. They established the modern pattern of vehicles pulling off the public road and drawing up alongside petrol pumps rather than being filled at the kerbside as at garages. Britain’s first self-service petrol pump became operational in November 1961 at Southwark Bridge, London.

Driver's license - Wikicars Driver's license Jump to: navigation , search A driver's license (USA), driver's licence (Canada), or driving licence (UK, Ireland, rest of Commonwealth) is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car , truck or a bus . Due to most Americans and Canadians possessing valid driving licenses, the driving license has become the de facto standard form of picture identification in those countries. The laws relating to driver's licensing vary between jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, a driving license is issued after the recipient has passed a driving test , while in others, a person acquires a license before beginning to drive. Different categories of license often exist for different types of motor vehicles, particularly large trucks and passenger vehicles. The difficulty of the driving test varies considerably between jurisdictions, as do factors such as age and the required level of practice. Contents 10 External links Name variations Driving licenses go by several different names, used both colloquially and formally. Driver's licence is used in Canada; driving license and driver license are used in the United States. The form driver licence is found in New Zealand and Australia (being introduced).

Conversely almost all Australians refer to it as a driver's licence. Driving licence is used in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, in European Union official usage, and in former British colonies such as Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and Singapore. History The first driver's license of sorts was issued to the inventor of the modern automobile, Karl Benz , in 1888. Because the noise and smell of his Motorwagen resulted in complaints by the citizens of Mannheim, Benz requested and received written permission by the Grand Ducal authorities to operate his car on public roads.<ref name="spiegel2008"> Template:Citation/core {{#if:|}}</ref> Up until the start of the 20th century, European authorities issued driver's licences similarly ad hoc, if at all.<ref name="spiegel2008"/> The first locality to require a mandatory driving licence and testing was Prussia, on 29 September 1903.

The Dampfkesselüberwachungsverein ("steam boiler supervision association") was charged with conducting the tests, which were mainly concerned with the drivers' mechanical aptitude.<ref name="spiegel2008"/> In 1910, the German imperial government mandated the licensing of drivers on a national scale, establishing a system of tests and driver's education requirements that would serve as a model for the licensing laws of other countries.<ref name="spiegel2008"/> As automobile-related fatalities soared in North America, public outcry provoked legislators to begin studying the French and German statutes as models.<ref>Anonymous, "Better Auto Laws Are Now Needed," New York Times, 18 August 1907, S3.</ref> On August 1, 1910, North America's first driver's licensing law went into effect in the U.S. state of New York, though it initially applied only to professional chauffeurs .<ref>Frederick H.

Elliott, "Working Out New Auto Law In New York," New York Times 16 October 1910, 3.</ref> In July 1913, the state of New Jersey became the first to require all drivers to pass a mandatory examination before receiving a license.<ref>{{#if: New York's Auto Exports Increase-Big Jump in Cars Shipped Last Year-New Jersey Examines All Drivers |{{#if: | {{#if: | [[{{{authorlink}}}|{{#if: | {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }} | {{{author}}} }}]] | {{#if: | {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }} | {{{author}}} }} }} }}{{#if: | {{#if: | , {{{coauthors}}} }}.

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Retrieved on 2009-06-03 }}.{{#if: | (in ) }}{{ #if: | “{{{quote}}}” }}|Template error: argument title is required.}}</ref> Identification Because a large number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have no national identification cards and because of the widespread use of cars, driving licenses are often used as a de facto standard form of identification. Many European countries and Canada require drivers to produce their license on demand when driving. In such countries, the driver must always carry their license on them when driving. In the United Kingdom, it is not necessary for drivers to carry their driving licence while driving. However, if stopped, a driver may be required to produce their licence at a nominated police station within seven days. The police issue a form for this purpose,<ref> Road traffic | Home Office </ref> colloquially known as the "seven-day wonder" or a "producer". Some European countries require adults to carry identification at all times. A driving licence is not necessarily valid as identification in every European country.

In the People's Republic of China, Dominican Republic and Venezuela, the driving license number is the same as the citizen's ID number (which is up to 18 digits long). A driving licence in Hong Kong carries the same number as the holder's ID card, but has no photograph. Upon inspection both must be presented. Plans to make the newly phased in Smart ID contain driving licence information have been shelved. Similarly, Saudi Arabia requires all drivers to carry an ID card in addition to a license and present them whenever requested. Using a driving licence instead is only permitted if the request is made for on-site inspection/identification purposes, especially at checkpoints. Expatriates may be requested to present their visas as well. License alternatives in the USA and Canada In addition to the standard driving license and commercial licenses there are other types of driving identification: Non-driver identification cards In a case where a person does not have a license (e.g., someone who is unable or chooses not to drive), a state identification card can be issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles in its place which typically resembles a license and has the same security and identification features as a license but without extending driving privileges.

Rules concerning this may vary state to state, but this can pass as identification for naturalized immigrants (usually stipulating length of stay by the expiry date, or only valid for 1 year if no date is listed for expiration) <ref name="dmv.state.va.us"> </ref> An existing driving license can be turned in, to exchange for an identification card (giving up the privilege of driving). Requirements needed to obtain a non-driver’s identification card vary by jurisdiction. Enhanced driving licenses Additionally, some provinces and states (British Columbia, Manitoba, Michigan, New York, Ontario, Quebec, Vermont, and Washington) are issuing Enhanced Driver's Licenses, and enhanced ID cards <ref>US CBP| </ref>. Enhanced licenses essentially combine a regular driving license with the same specifications of the new US passport card. Thus in addition to proving driving privileges, the enhanced license also is proof of U.S.

citizenship (for EDLs/EIDs issued in the US) or Canadian citizenship (for EDLs/EIDs issued in Canada), and can therefore be used to cross the US-Canadian and US-Mexican borders by road, rail, or sea, but not air (this will always require a traditional passport book owing to International Civil Aviation Organization regulations).<ref> Enhanced Drivers Licenses: What Are They? , retrieved April 2, 2008.</ref> The enhanced licenses are also fully Real ID compliant. These cards have RFID so they may be used at border crossings that have RFID readers.

On March 27, 2008, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that Washington's enhanced driving license<ref> Enhanced Driver License/ID Card (EDL/ID) </ref> was the first such license approved under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative;<ref> Homeland Security and State Departments Announce WHTI Land and Sea Final Rule , retrieved April 2, 2008.</ref> according to a Homeland Security press release, the department is also working with Arizona, New York, and Vermont authorities to develop enhanced driving licenses.<ref> Publication of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Land and Sea Final Rule, Questions and Answers , retrieved April 2, 2008.</ref> On September 16, 2008, NYS began to issue WHTI-Compliant Enhanced driver licenses (EDL). <ref> NYS DMV - Enhanced DMV Photo Documents for U.S. Citizens Who are Residents of NYS </ref> Texas was expected to also implement an enhanced driving license program, but the program has been blocked by Texas Gov.

Rick Perry, despite a state law authorizing the Texas Department of Public Safety to issue EDLs and a ruling by the state attorney general, Greg Abbott, that Texas's production of EDLs would comply with federal requirements.<ref> Perry Denies Enhanced Driver's License Program , retrieved April 2, 2008.</ref><ref> AG Gives Conditional Approval To Enhanced License , retrieved April 2, 2008.</ref> Licenses for different categories of vehicles In a number of countries (including the United States, New Zealand and some provinces of Canada) people who drive commercially (especially truckers and taxi drivers) are required to have special licenses. For taxicab drivers, these licenses are usually called Chauffeur Permits. In most cases, commercial truckers must hold a commercial driving license or CDL. In India, a commercial driving license is valid for 5 years while an individual license is valid for 20 years.

In the United Kingdom, one must hold a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) license to drive a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats for hire or reward, or a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) license to drive a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (Maximum Authorized Mass) in excess of 3 500 kg. Special licenses can also be required in order to transport hazardous materials. The cost of taking the series of tests and examinations to obtain these licenses usually means that an employer would subsidize his or her drivers. Categories for driving licenses are standardised throughout the European Union, see European driving licence . In India, people aged more than 50 years have to undergo strict medical tests in order to obtain a license. The license validity is 5 years and requires renewal every 5 years. Organ donations Licensing bureaus in many countries add an organ donation option on license forms. Sometimes a small picture of a heart or the term Organ Donor is printed on the driving license, to indicate that he/she has agreed to donate his/her organs in case of a sudden death, such as in a car accident. In the United States, this is governed by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

In the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Ireland, willingness to donate organs for transplantion is also listed on driver's licenses. In Australia, the system of notating organ donation requests on licenses was replaced in July 2005 with a national registration system and the issue of special cards. Driving license by region Africa Egypt Citizens of all Egyptian governorates are entitled to a Driving License once they have reached the age of 18. To obtain their licenses, applicants must pass only one test. Until a few years ago, Egypt was known for having the easiest driving test in the world. In order to pass, all a person had to do was drive six meters forward and then reverse six meters. However, the test has recently been updated to make it more difficult, now the applicant has to answer 8 out of 10 correct answers in a computer test,then pass a forward & reverse S-track test. Morocco The legal driving age of Moroccan Citizens is 18. South Africa Main article: Driving licence in South Africa The minimum driving age in South Africa is 18, except for small motorcycles which may be driven from the age of 16.

To obtain a licence, applicants must pass a written or computer-based test to obtain a learner's licence, and then pass a road test to obtain the driving licence.

Europe See also: {{#if:Driving licence in the United Kingdom| Driving licence in the United Kingdom | MISSING ARTICLES }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, | and }} [[:{{{2}}}|{{{2}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{3}}}|{{{3}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{4}}}|{{{4}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{6}}}|{{{6}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{7}}}|{{{7}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{8}}}|{{{8}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{9}}}|{{{9}}}]] }}{{#if:|{{#if:|, |, and }} [[:{{{10}}}|{{{

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In order to obtain a driving license, a person must follow a driving school with a duration depending on the desired category and pass a theory and road exam. Russia The age to obtain a driver's licence in Canada varies by Province, as do the necessary procedures. The minimum age for obtaining a Drivers' licence to drive solo in most provinces is 16. The territories vary. United States Caribbean Mexico A driver is allowed a driver's permit at the age of 16, until they receive a driving license at the age of 18, they are not allowed to drive alone Jamaica A citizen may obtain a learner's permit once he or she has obtained a TRN (Taxpayer Registration Number), which may be issued as early as age 17. A learner will get their driving license upon being proven competent, only through the results of both a written and practical test. This license expires on the holder's fifth birthday after the date of issue. Central America Costa Rica Every vehicle driver must carry a driving license (Licencia de Conducir), which is issued by a special education department (Dirección General Educación Vial) of the ministry of transportation and public infrastructure (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte).

For this license to be granted there are three needed tests, practical driving (includes driving a car in simulated streets), theoretical driving (a multiple selection written test based on booklet issued by the education department or after taking a special course), and finally a medical test performed by a medical practitioner that tests eyesight, blood pressure and attests the presence of other diseases and behavior of the driver. Every citizen can solicit a driving license at age 18, after being issued the first time, the license must be renewed after two years, and every successive occasion after five years. Template:Citation needed Besides this document the driver must carry the national identity card (Cédula de Identidad), however both documents use the same identification number, the national identity card being the basis of the driving license number. South America Main article: Driver's licence in Australia The minimum driving age varies between 16 to 18 years of age in different States and Territories. After the minimum age, a graduated licensing scheme operates, with State variations. Queensland implemented new laws after July 2007.

Queensland follows a graduate licensing system, which runs like this: At 16 Years - learners permit (after passing theory test), Black and Yellow L plates must be displayed and 100 hours of on road driving must be logged including 10 hours of night driving. At 17 Years a Q-Safe practical driving test may be taken if the license has been held for at least a year and the 100 logged hours are confirmed. If passed, the driver is issued with a P1 license. Red and white P plates must be displayed. Restrictions include a B.A.C of 0.00, no mobile phones while driving (including hands-free), no more than 1 passenger between 10pm - 5am (direct family members excepted) and no high powered cars, e.g. Turbo or 8 and 12 cylinder engines. At 18 Years a hazard perception test is taken. The driver then obtains a P2 License, which places restrictions similar to a P1, except that hands free phones may be used and no special restrictions are placed on the number of passengers allowed.

At 20 Years the driver obtains an open license which has a maximum B.A.C of 0.05. New Zealand The minimum age to obtain a Learner Licence is 15 in New Zealand. International considerations Many groups of countries have agreed to recognise driving licenses issued by authorities of any of its members. Examples include the European Union and the GCC, where holders of driving licenses issued by any member state can drive in all member states. Most countries worldwide will also recognize the licenses of citizens of foreign states wishing to drive as visitors. All EU member countries now issue licenses in a standard format, regardless of the language of the license.<ref> Transport - Driving license </ref> The International Driving Permit (IDP) (sometimes erroneously called the International Driver's License) is a booklet which is an authorized translation of a driver's home license into many languages (especially languages with different scripts such as Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.). In some cases, it is obtained from a motoring organization such as the Automobile Association or the equivalent in the driver's home country. In other cases, it is delivered by the same government services that deliver ordinary licenses.

The IDP has no validity except when used in conjunction with the driver's own license. The existence of the IDP is necessitated by many countries refusing to recognize driving licenses written in foreign languages without accompanying translations. The People's Republic of China at present does not recognize IDPs (although Hong Kong and Macau do) and requires drivers to get an additional PRC license before being officially allowed on all roads. Holders of foreign licenses are exempt from certain requirements when obtaining a PRC license. A minimum driving age often exists regardless of possession of a foreign license; an American cannot drive below the local minimum age in Europe, nor can a 17-year-old Briton drive in mainland Europe where the minimum age is 18.<ref> France </ref> Many countries have established a driving license exchange arrangement after reviews of the foreign jurisdiction's licensing processes. Where standards in the other jurisdiction are comparable in areas such as medical standards, minimum driving age, and knowledge and road testing, an exchange (or honoring) of the foreign jurisdiction's license may occur.

[1] This may also be called Driver’s License Reciprocity.<ref> </ref> Issues when moving permanently from one country to another Most license-issuing authorities require holders of "foreign" licenses taking up residence in their jurisdiction to obtain a local driving license within a limited time (typically 6 months or 1 year). In most cases, the driver must follow the full local procedure for obtaining a license, but some jurisdictions have mutual recognition agreements and will exchange the foreign license for a local one without the need to undertake an additional driving test. An exception is the EU, where licenses do not need to be exchanged since the introduction of the common EU-driver's-licence scheme.

Canada British Columbia has a reciprocal license exchange scheme for other Canadian provinces and territories as well as the countries below provided the license is valid or has been expired for less than 3 years <ref> ICBC - Driver licensing </ref> : Austria Switzerland United Kingdom United States (applicants from Illinois, New Jersey and Vermont must provide a driving abstract dated within 6 months) France US driving license can be exchanged from the 14 states below during the first year of legal residence in France: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. <ref> </ref> Germany The US Embassy, supported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, continues to actively press all US states to reach an agreement on the reciprocal recognition of driving licenses with Germany, essentially a waiver of testing requirements. <ref> </ref> Depending upon which state your driving license is from, you may be exempt from either the practical test or both – the practical and written – tests when you apply for a German driver’s license. Below is a list of states which have concluded agreements with the German government.

See the list to determine if you are exempt from the practical test, written test, or both tests. <ref> </ref> US State exempt Hong Kong As stated on the application form for direct issue of full Hong Kong driving licence (Rev. 11/2008),<ref> Application For Direct Issue Of Full Hong Kong Driving Licence </ref> when a person has documentary evidence to the Commissioner's satisfaction that all of the following apply, the person is eligible to direct issue of a Hong Kong licence: One has a full driving licence (but not an International driving permit) during the past three years issued by one of the following countries or places: Australia]], Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, People's Republic of China (includes Macau), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Taiwan, United Kingdom (together with Alderney, Bermuda, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey), United States of America.

The driving entitlement(s) for which one is applying must be equivalent to the class(es) which are authorized to drive by the issuing country or place; and The driving licence was obtained by passing the relevant driving test(s) in the issuing country or place; and Satisfies one of the three requirements below: The license was originally issued on any date during a period of residence of not less than 6 months in the country or place of issue (entry and departure stamps on a passport, school transcript or employer's testimonial with employment period specified are accepted as proof); or The licence has been issued for not less than 5 years immediately before the application; or Hold a passport or an equivalent travel document of the country or place in which the licence was issued. Singapore A foreigner above 18 years of age and holding a Work Pass/Dependent Pass/Student Pass may drive in Singapore with a valid class 3, 3A or 2B foreign licence, for a period of not more than 12 months. A Singapore driving licence is required after 12 months. Those on short term social visit may drive with their foreign licence for up to 12 months each time they enter into Singapore .

For licence not written in English language, an International Driving Permit or translation is required. Foreign licence conversion is only granted for class 2B and class 3 qualified driving licences. In order to convert your foreign licence to a Singapore driving licence, you are required to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT). Overseas theory test results are not admissible for consideration. <ref> </ref> United Kingdom The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which licenses drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland, exchanges full licences issued by:<ref> Directgov *'exchange driving licence' interactive tool </ref> Northern Ireland (Although part of UK, licences are issued by the DVA), European Union/EEA and Switzerland, The British Crown Dependencies Gibraltar and other British Overseas Territories, Australia, Barbados, Canada (by default, Canadian driver's licenses will only be exchanged for licences to drive automatic transmission cars, unless documentary evidence is provided that a manual shift test was passed in Canada), Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

United States Delaware has a reciprocal license exchange for country below: <ref> [2] </ref> Germany District of Columbia driver’s license may be obtained while maintaining out-of-country driver’s license. A DC driving licence may vary for non-US citizens, depending on visa classification. The written test is required for non-US Citizens who possess an out-of-country driver’s license. <ref> </ref> Louisiana driving license holders of a valid driving licence can have their license exchanged under a reciprocity agreement with the following countries: Germany Nevada drivers who have never been licensed or those who currently hold a license from a foreign country or a U.S. territory must take vision, knowledge (written) and skills (driving) tests. <ref> </ref> New York State driving license may be obtained for a resident of another country. If you have a driver license from any nation except Canada, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license.

<ref> #driversfromothernations </ref> Washington State has a reciprocal license exchange for countries below: <ref> [3] </ref> Canada: British Columbia Germany Texas has reciprocal license exchange with almost 100 countries.<ref> </ref> Consecutive licenses exchange Theoretically as seen from the above exchange arrangement list, this kind of reciprocal license exchange scheme might become a backdoor for a person with a driving license issued by a country with less stringent driving test system (or even through purchase or bribery) to exchange for a license issued by a more reputable country without the need of any driving test. Some countries impose additional requirements such as residency, or proof that a driving test has been administered when obtaining the license issued. For example, subject to fulfilling the other license exchange requirements, a Pakistan or Indian or PRC driving licence holder can exchange for a Hong Kong driver's licence<ref> Transport Department of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR - Driving in Hong Kong for Overseas Driving Licence Holders </ref> first. Then exchange for e.g. a United Kingdom full licence. Later the United Kingdom full licence can be exchanged for a Ontario Driving Licence which can later be exchanged for any state in the United States or Canada.

Driving Licence News: Find Latest News on Driving Licence - NDTV.COM Driving Licence News Delhi Government Opposes 5-Fold Driving Licence Fee Hike Delhi News | Indo-Asian News Service | Thursday January 12, 2017 The Delhi government on Wednesday opposed the union Transport Ministry's move hiking the driving licence fee by up to five times and said it should have been increased gradually. Delhi Regional Transport Offices Set To Go Cashless From January 2017 Delhi News | Press Trust of India | Sunday December 25, 2016 Regional Transport Offices in the national capital are set to go cashless from January when fees for all services including driving licence, auto permit and fitness certificate can be paid electronically. Now Drive Without Documents, Courtesy DigiLocker Indo-Asian News Service | Thursday September 8, 2016 Now, no need to carry around physical copies of the Vehicle Registration Certificate or the Driving Licence -- it can all be stored digitally - courtesy the DigiLocker, a secured cloud-based platform.

DigiLocker Enables Digital Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration Papers Gopal Sathe | Wednesday September 7, 2016 DigiLocker has partnered with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to create a digital driving license you can keep on your phone. Drivers Licence And Registration Soft Copies To Be Valid Soon Cyrus Dhabhar | Tuesday September 6, 2016 The Indian government is working on a new system that will help drivers around the country to keep a soft copy of their driving licence handy instead of carrying the smart cards or older licence or registration books. Speeding Car, Allegedly Driven By 18-Year-Old, Kills Delhi Police Officer Delhi News | Press Trust of India | Sunday August 21, 2016 A 54-year-old constable was run over by a speeding car allegedly driven by an 18-year-old boy, who did not have a driving licence, near Welcome metro station in northeast Delhi this morning.

Intelligent Driving License Test Track Experience Kingshuk Dutta | Saturday August 20, 2016 Punjab government in partnership with Smart Chip Limited, a subsidiary of Safran Limited has opened 32 Intelligent driving license test tracks in Punjab, which are automated and keep the human interference to a minimum. What makes this test track really intelligent is the fact that the applicants' driving test is evaluated by using biometric system... Cabinet Approves New Motor Vehicle Bill, Drunk Driving Fine Rs 10,000 India News | Indo-Asian News Service | Thursday August 4, 2016 The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2016, providing for hefty penalties for violation of road safety rules. The fine for driving without licence goes up ten times to Rs 5,000 while penalty for drunken driving increases fivefold to Rs 10,000.

30 Per Cent Of Driving Licences Are Bogus In India, Says Nitin Gadkari India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday May 29, 2016 Almost every third driving licence in India could be 'bogus' with a staggering number of over five crore people driving on roads with fake documents, according to official data. Govt Proposes Steep Fines for Violating Traffic Rules CarAndBike Team | Tuesday May 17, 2016 The Road Transport Ministry has proposed a steep hike in fines, suspension and cancellation of driving licences and even imprisonment for serious traffic offences. For drunk driving, one of the most serious offences, the ministry has proposed a maximum penalty of Rs 10,000 and suspension of driving licence for three months while repeat offenders c... In Telangana, An App To Record Your Driving Licence, Car Registration Telangana News | Written by Uma Sudhir, Divya Vishwanathan | Friday April 15, 2016 Hi-tech city Hyderabad has shown the smart way to be on the move without the hassle and risk of carrying around mandatory vehicle and licence documents.

New App Stores Driving Licence, Other Vehicle-Related Documents Press Trust of India | Thursday March 31, 2016 The RTA m-Wallet helps motorists avoid physically carrying documents like driving licence, registration certification and other vehicle related papers. Complaint Filed Against Remo Fernandes, Son Jonah For Misusing Indian Identity Indo-Asian News Service | Saturday January 2, 2016 "We have filed a criminal complaint against Remo and Jonah under Section 17 of Citizenship Act, 1955. Remo had joined a political party and was the brand ambassador for the Election Commission of India, despite being a Portuguese national, whereas Jonah was using an Indian driving licence despite being a French citizen," said Kashinath Shetye Penalty For Driving Drunk In Maharashtra: Lose Your Licence For 3 Months India News | Press Trust of India | Saturday January 2, 2016 Motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol will now have their driving licences suspended for three months in Maharashtra.

Woman Held In Las Vegas Strip Sidewalk Rampage Drove With Licence Suspended World News | Reuters | Tuesday December 22, 2015 An Oregon woman who killed one woman and injured at least 35 pedestrians when she plowed her car into crowds on a Las Vegas Strip sidewalk on Sunday evening was driving on a suspended licence, authorities said on Monday. Sachin Tendulkar Asks Second Question in Rajya Sabha Press Trust of India | Tuesday December 8, 2015 Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013, asked if the government intended to make driving licence procedure stringent to curb fake licenses and got a written reply. He had asked his first question on Friday. 660 Vehicles in Delhi Put to Notice for Violating Permit Conditions Delhi News | Press Trust of India | Saturday November 21, 2015 660 vehicles were today put to notice for violating permit conditions, which includes driving without licence and faulty meters among others, by the Delhi Revenue department using its recently acquired powers.

Karim Benzema Caught Driving Without a Valid Licence Agence France-Presse | Friday October 30, 2015 A police patrol had stopped him to issue a fine after the French international had committed an illegal turn. Delhi Police to Suspend Driving Licence of Traffic Violators Delhi News | Press Trust of India | Saturday September 19, 2015 In a major step to improve traffic situation in the national capital, Delhi Police will soon start enforcing the directions Supreme Court committee on road committee to suspend driving licences and jail term for traffic violators. Apple to Start Driving Street View-Like Vehicles to Improve Maps NDTV Correspondent | Wednesday June 10, 2015 Contrasting its efforts with the Google Street View campaign, Apple said it would blur faces and licence plates on collected images prior to publication to protect privacy. Carlos Tevez Driving Licence Suspended for Speeding in Mont Blanc Tunnel Agence France-Presse | Friday May 8, 2015 Carlos Tevez was clocked exceeding the 70km/h limit in the Mont Blanc Tunnel after Juventus' 2-1 Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid in Turin.

Pune RTO to Shift Driving Test to Advanced Track Wednesday March 11, 2015 Soon Pune residents who intend to get their permanent driving licence will have to undertake a more robust test since the city's regional transport office (RTO) has proposed to employ an advanced track for the driving test for cars.

Salman Khan Hit-and-Run: Court Says Actor Can't be Asked For Driving Licence Press Trust of India | Tuesday March 3, 2015 The prosecutor had argued that Salman Khan did not possess a licence when his car ran over people sleeping in 2002 Salman Khan Hit-and-Run: Actor Had no Driving Licence, Says Witness Press Trust of India | Monday February 16, 2015 The witness, who is an assistant inspector at the RTO, told Sessions Judge DW Deshpande that the actor had obtained a driving licence only in 2004, two years after the hit-and-run incident NDTVMovies | Thursday February 12, 2015 For years, his lawyers have argued that Mr Khan was not driving the car Google Defends 'Licence' to Spend Despite Glass Failings Reuters | Friday January 30, 2015 Pichette's admission of Glass' failings was particularly noteworthy given it has been long championed by Google co-founder Brin.

Fake Driving Licence Racket Busted, 3 Arrested in Hyderabad South | Press Trust of India | Wednesday January 14, 2015 The Cyberabad Police today busted a fake driving licence racket with the arrest of three persons in Hyderabad. Turkish Bus Driver Couldn't Stop Himself From 'Dancing at Wheel', Fined Offbeat | Agence France-Presse | Monday December 29, 2014 A Turkish bus driver has been fined and stripped of his licence after a video went viral of him getting out of his seat dancing to a folk song while driving on a busy highway in Istanbul For Rs 200, a Licence to Drive a Cab: NDTV Expose After Uber Case India News | Written by Sidharth Pandey | Thursday December 11, 2014 Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav, arrested for allegedly raping a passenger last week, faked a character certificate from the police to hide his multiple criminal cases. NDTV has found that he could well have got a fake commercial driving licence too, for just Rs 200. 74 lakh Counterfeit Driving Licences in India?

Wednesday December 10, 2014 A study by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the road transport ministry revealed that about 74 lakh licences out of the total six crore might be duplicate.

Question: In 1893, which was the first country to impose driving tests and issue driving licences?
Answer: France